While all eyes are currently on the Greenweez Paris Major at Roland-Garros, A1 Padel stopped off this week on the side of the Villa of Mostoles in Madrid. Since the start of the tournament, the seeded players have held up rather well and the semi-finals this Saturday pitted the TS 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Germani-Chiostri
Copyright A1

Allemandi/Abud for a first

The first semi-final, starting at 16pm, pitted Martin Abud and Adrian Allemandi (TS4) against Maxi Sánchez and Federico Chiostri (TS5). Winners in the previous round of the seeded team 2 Pereyra/De Pascual in 2 tie-breaks, The Argentinians started the game well by imposing their rhythm: 6/3The game then becomes more balanced, with each pair converting one break point out of three. 

Then a decisive game must be played: it will be the turning point of this match. Sánchez/Chiostri is the first to draw and achieves the mini-break. At 3/2, the momentum seems to be on the side of the 100% Argentinian pair, especially since "Tito" Allemandi seems physically affected. On the point of 3/2, he hits the back wall in defense with his right hip and does not finish the exchange. Limping low, returned to his chair, he called in the physiotherapist from the Madrid tournament and resumed the game with difficulty after several minutes of interruption. The case then seemed well and truly over… Well, not at all! Against all expectations, Maxi Sánchez and Federico Chiostri decide to direct the game towards Paraguayan Martin Abud and commit several mistakes along the way. 4/4, then 5/5: the time for "money time" has come, during which Abud snatches a set point with a winning smash, all at the end of a marathon point. On this one, Allemandi/Abud once again drags Sánchez/Chiostri into a long line, concluded with a winning volley from “Tito” Allemandi.

The third set is a simple formality for the Argentine-Paraguayan pair. At 2 games to 1, Allemandi/Abud achieve a first break and confirm it in stride. On the other side of the net, Maxi Sánchez and Federico Chiostri put much less intensity into the exchange, Sánchez even calling on the physio to have his back manipulated. The Argentinian is affected both physically and mentally : he commits 2 unforced errors in the last 6 games, which seal this semi-final. Result: victory in three sets, 3/6 7/6 6/1 for Allemandi and Abud, who therefore qualify for their first final as a pair! This is also the first time Martin Abud will play on a Sunday on an A1... 

Lijo reverse
Pablo Lijó a deserved final Copyright A1

Arce/Lijó end Aguirre/Alfonso's historic finals streak!

The second semi-final was played in the evening between TS 1 and 3: Tolito Aguirre / Gonzalo Alfonso against Maximiliano Arce and Pablo Lijó. The two pairs were close from the start of the match and a tie-break was needed to decide between them. The Galician Lijó showed great solidity facing the number 1 of this A1 circuit, Gonzalo Alfonso. Very hard-hitting and stingy with direct errors, Arce and Lijó manage to annihilate creativity of a Tolito Aguirre who was generally deprived of opportunities. An hour after the start of the game, they were the ones who pocketed the first set: 7/6.

The time for revolt has come for the TS1 of the tournament. During the second set, Aguirre/Alfonso pocketed a first break at 2/1, was caught, but quickly got back into it: 5/3, then 6/4. The leaders presented more complete statistics than their opponents, with in particular 10 winning smashes out of 17 (against only 7 for Arce/Lijó) and 19 winning points (against 14 for their opponents).

The third set is balanced and the game reorients itself more in the diagonal of righte. It will take place in two stroke. At first, Pablo Lijó and Maxi Arce suffered from the varied tactics of Aguirre/Gonzalo. The rallies continued, but turned in favor of the seeded team, who led 1/4, then 1/5. It was at this point that the match changes againu. Lijó and Arce committing fewer mistakes, while the Galician Lijó finds his power. The remontada is impressive and ends with a Breathless game during which Arce/Lijó chained together victorious rallies. Final victory 7/6 4/6 7/5 in 2h48 minutes for the seed 3, which ends the series of 9 consecutive finals garnered by Aguirre/Alfonso!

The final will be tomorrow Germani/Abud to Arce/Lijó and will be followed on the channel A1 YouTube Padel.

Frederic Theulé

Not a day goes by without a line… of padel court! For a few years now, Frédéric has decided to devote himself to his lifelong passion: the little yellow ball and its merciless world. Addict, did you say addict?

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